How to Land the Best Music Industry Jobs

Tired of watching shows like X Factor and feeling you’re way more talented than half the competition?

Have you always dreamed of living the glamorous, jet-set lifestyle of a record producer? Want to be your hometown’s next breakout artist, or learn how to make incredible beats?

If you’re interested in breaking into the music industry, you’ve probably heard the saying that talent doesn’t matter half as much as who you know.

But while the right connections certainly make landing music industry jobs easier, they aren’t the only way to succeed.

In this post, we’ll tell you how you can connect with the most enviable gigs in the music biz.

Start By Looking The Part And Knowing Your History

You know what they say: fake it ’till you make it.

Just because you’re still on the hunt for dream music industry jobs doesn’t mean you can’t fool people into thinking you’re already a star.

Dedicate some time learning your music history. It’s not enough to know who the top 20 artists are right now. You also need to know who they were for each decade, and across every genre.

You won’t just earn more points at bar trivia nights.

You’ll also find the specific type of music you want to represent and create your own sound.

Understanding your musical icons and inspirations will help you refine your tastes and communicate to others in the industry that you’ve done your homework.

You’ll also need to update your look. Read more here about what the biggest artists are wearing. Things like custom grillz, cult brands from the 90s, and even tiny sunglasses are back in a big way.

How you dress says a lot about the sound you produce. Don’t be afraid to be outlandish and over-the-top. Bold fashion choices will get you noticed by bloggers and other artists — giving you the chance to promote your own work.

Search For Internships

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be Cher’s long-lost cousin to break into the industry. You also don’t always have to be in college in order to land an internship either.

You can start by searching for internships open to different education levels and experiences.

If you strike out, don’t panic.

Remember — this business appreciates people who hustle. Get to know local musicians, creators, DJs, and technicians in your area. Look into local indie record labels.

Even hit up that lost relic, the music store. Or, head to a popular place where bands play a lot of gigs.

Then, approach them and tell them you’d like to do an internship with them. Even though the work is almost 99.9% guaranteed to be unpaid, you’ll still get a feel for what the industry is really like.

Who knows what opportunities could come your way if you put in your best work every day.

Embrace Self Promotion

When you’re looking for music industry jobs, sometimes you’ll need to create them yourself.

This business is all about self-promotion, by any means necessary. Get in touch with local venues and ask if your band can book a show. Create an awesome website and constantly update it with new music.

Sometimes, you might have to busk on the street or approach other artists about a collaboration.

For better or for worse, even Justin Bieber made it big thanks to uploading videos of himself and his music on YouTube.

In the end, your success or failure in this business rests in your hands.

Comb Through The Classifieds

Believe it or not, some of the best music industry jobs are lurking in the online Classifieds.

Keep in mind that many big names in the music industry don’t want to identify who they are when they’re looking for a new assistant or creative partner. If they did, they’d likely have to deal with thousands of applicants.

Many names you know will end up using the Classifieds section to help them to find the talent they need — without having their identity get in the way.

You can sort through the jobs according to your specific area of interest, experience level, and even your location. You might even end up finding jobs you didn’t even know existed, like working a merch table at a show or rearranging songs to fit certain genres.

Plus, you can find educational opportunities listed in the Classifieds section, meaning you can develop your skills by taking classes in music theory or the history of classical music.

Suddenly, your job search is a whole lot easier.

Ready To Find Music Industry Jobs?

Thanks to this post, breaking into the music industry isn’t as impossible as it may seem.

It will require a lot of hustle, drive, talent, and yes, good luck — but it’s always worth it.